Helpful Score: 2
I feel I would be doing a disservice by not writing a review for this book. I checked this out from my library and I am very glad I did not buy it. I was very disappointed with this book. It has all the wrong things going for it: too simplistic, VERY predictable as the mystery is not very mysterious, and a bad story line. I can't tell if this book is over or under edited. Why maybe over-edited? There are a slew of unnecessary scenes and content leaving me to believe there used to be more meat to the story but much was taken out leaving the story to feel undeveloped, choppy, and scattered. Why maybe under-edited? Again, unnecessary scenes leaving me to wonder if the author was trying to add length to what is a very short novel and in doing so created a mess. Either way, it didn't go well.
I also should have seen simplicity coming when the author chose to use two different fonts to distinguish between the two characters' story lines. Come on, seriously, when each character's chapter is only five pages long, how intricate does the author think the book is to merit different fonts to distinguish between them? It also shows she has a low opinion as to the intelligence of her fan-base, which goes on to explain why her books lack complexity. I guess she doesn't think we can handle it, or maybe she's not capable of creating it.
This is my third Jio novel. I've also read Bungalow and Blackberry Winter. I did like Bungalow mostly for the setting. There were several loose ends that when tied up in the end did not logically make sense, but because it took place in the South Pacific I was willing to forgive the oversights. I was so-so on Blackberry Winter for many of the same reasons I was disappointed here. It was very predictable but I did like the characters better.
As someone who enjoys cerebral books, Last Camellia was a no-go. I will need to take an extended break from Jio for some time.
I also should have seen simplicity coming when the author chose to use two different fonts to distinguish between the two characters' story lines. Come on, seriously, when each character's chapter is only five pages long, how intricate does the author think the book is to merit different fonts to distinguish between them? It also shows she has a low opinion as to the intelligence of her fan-base, which goes on to explain why her books lack complexity. I guess she doesn't think we can handle it, or maybe she's not capable of creating it.
This is my third Jio novel. I've also read Bungalow and Blackberry Winter. I did like Bungalow mostly for the setting. There were several loose ends that when tied up in the end did not logically make sense, but because it took place in the South Pacific I was willing to forgive the oversights. I was so-so on Blackberry Winter for many of the same reasons I was disappointed here. It was very predictable but I did like the characters better.
As someone who enjoys cerebral books, Last Camellia was a no-go. I will need to take an extended break from Jio for some time.
My least favourite book by this author. Not very fleshed out characters but what really bothered me was a lack of research or knowledge about England in 1940...the author had characters wondering if there was going to be a war...in reality, war was declared in 1939, the debacle of Dunkirk was in May and June if 1940, invasion of England by Germany was a very real possibility...the London Blitz began in September... I had so much trouble with the author's apparent lack of knowledge about the time and place that she was writing about that it completely robbed me of any enjoyment that might have been there for the taking.
This is the 4th book of Jio's that I've read. I enjoyed it but it wasn't as good as the other 3. This one takes place in 2 different time periods, the 1940's and present day. There is a mystery that surrounds an exotic and rare flower, a pink cammelia, that joins the 2 stories. In the first story, a woman named Flora takes a job as a nanny in England to help out her aging parents who are struggling financially. The 2nd story is about Addison, a woman who accompanies her husband to his parents recently purchased
English manor in order to run away from her past. In both stories there were characters who weren't fleshed out enough and if they had been perhaps I would have understood and enjoyed the ending better. All in all a good read.
English manor in order to run away from her past. In both stories there were characters who weren't fleshed out enough and if they had been perhaps I would have understood and enjoyed the ending better. All in all a good read.
The mystery takes place in the 1940s. We follow the story in real time as it takes place in the 40s and also in modern time as the mystery is reconstructed.
There is a second mystery that takes place in modern time - which we also view in flashbacks of 15 years in the past.
I really enjoyed the story, although sometimes I got lost in who's story/time/mystery any given chapter was following. The narrator's voice was too similar across the different characters which left me looking back to the beginning of each chapter to remind myself who was speaking.
All in all, a good book and I would highly recommend it. You have to pay attention though, or you may get all the story lines crossed.
There is a second mystery that takes place in modern time - which we also view in flashbacks of 15 years in the past.
I really enjoyed the story, although sometimes I got lost in who's story/time/mystery any given chapter was following. The narrator's voice was too similar across the different characters which left me looking back to the beginning of each chapter to remind myself who was speaking.
All in all, a good book and I would highly recommend it. You have to pay attention though, or you may get all the story lines crossed.
This novel is two stories in one, one layered atop the other. Addison, who loves and lives for designing beautiful gardens, moves to England with her husband to live in a mansion purchased by his parents. Her love of plants leads her to investigate a long ago mystery surrounding a rare pink camellia the last of which is believed to be on the grounds of their new home. She discovers that during the 1940s Flora, a young woman recruited by a ring of plant thieves, was involved in a plot to steal the rare flower. In addition, there are several incidents of women disappearing in connection with the flower.
While I enjoyed the book, I felt that Jio did not develop the characters of Addison and Rex as well as she might. To me, they seemed flat and pale beside Flora and the others in her story. Perhaps that was what she meant to do but I think the novel would have been better had these characters been more fully developed. I found The Last Bungalow a much better read. However, fans of Sarah Jio will probably enjoy this latest effort by the author.
While I enjoyed the book, I felt that Jio did not develop the characters of Addison and Rex as well as she might. To me, they seemed flat and pale beside Flora and the others in her story. Perhaps that was what she meant to do but I think the novel would have been better had these characters been more fully developed. I found The Last Bungalow a much better read. However, fans of Sarah Jio will probably enjoy this latest effort by the author.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two story lines collide in a manor outside of London as two women are trying to find out the full story behind the misshappenings in this large English home. One story takes place in the 1940s as World War II is beginning while the other is a current story, but the run parallel and intersect in the most fascinating ways!
Two story lines collide in a manor outside of London as two women are trying to find out the full story behind the misshappenings in this large English home. One story takes place in the 1940s as World War II is beginning while the other is a current story, but the run parallel and intersect in the most fascinating ways!
Looking for a lost flower doesn't really excite me, and that's what this book is all about! I enjoyed Sarah Jio's three previous books but this one was a bit of a disappointment at first. However, there was enough of a mystery to keep my interest. The story went from past to present with each chapter, as did her previous books, and I was drawn to Flora's story from the past along with the present day Addison. The ending was fulfilling and I was left with a good feeling after all. If you read Sarah Jio's other books, you will enjoy this one,
Not my favorite Jio book but if you are a fan of the author you will probably like the book. She continues with her style of wrting -- two stories -- two timeframes that intertwine with one another.
